Clamp



C. l. WALLACE.

CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED'IULY a1. 1915.

1. 1 93,642. Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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CARL J. WALLACE, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Application filed July 31, 1915. Serial No. 42,988.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL J. WALLACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to clamps and while it is designed more particularly for attaching a cylindrical distributer casing to the steering post of an automobile it has a wide range of utility both in connection with antomobiles and otherwise.

The object of the invention is to provide a very simple, inexpensive and easily operated clamp for attaching a device to be supported, such as a distributer casing, to a supporting member, such as a steering post, which will form a strong, firm connection between the parts; and further, to provide such a device which can be applied both to the supporting device and the device to be supported without the boring of holes or otherwise marring the parts; and further, to provide a device of such a construction that it can be used either as a double clamp or as a single clamp.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view, partly in section, of a device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing the parts of the clamp separated; Fig. 3 is a detail view of a slightly modified form of the device; Fig. l is a plan view of a modified form of the device; Fig. 5 is a top, plan view or a single clamp for supporting the bracket; and Fig. 6 is a perspective View, partially broken away, of the device shown in Fig. 5.v

In these drawings I have illustrated one form of the invention with certain minor modifications thereof. In that form shown in Figs. 1 to a the clamp is a double clamp, that is, it has parts for clamping both the device to be supported and the supporting device. The device consists essentially of two clamps having a single connecting device. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 each clamp comprises two curved members or bands 1, each having at one end a hook-shaped portion 2, which is here shown as of a width slightly less than the width of the band. In-

terposed between those ends of the bands having the hook-shaped portions is a connecting device, such as a plate 3, having curved seats 4 conforming substantially to the circles described in part by the respective curved bands 1. This connecting device is provided at its ends with bars 5 and 6, the

4 bars 5 being arranged to be engaged by the hook-shaped portions of one pair of bands and the bars 6 being arranged for engage ment by the hook-shaped portion of the other pair of bands. This connecting plate may be of any suitable character but is preferably cast in a single piece and is provided with longitudinally extending arms 7 between which the bars 5 and 6 are supported. The bands of each pair are provided at those ends opposite the hook-shaped portions with ears or lugs 8, bent outward and provided with apertures 9 to receive bolts 10 which serve to draw together these ends of the bands and to clamp the bands snugly about the device to which said clamp is to be at tached. As shown in Fig. 1 the bands of one pair extend about the steering post 11, which is circular in cross section and the other pair of bands extend about a distributer casing 12, which is also circular in cross section. To hold these parts snugly against movement or slipping in the bands I have provided the curved portions or seats a of the connecting plates 3 with studs 13 adapted to enter recesses in the casing and steering post, respectively. Instead of using studs it will be obvious that the same result can be secured by roughening the seats, as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be apparent that the device shown can be very quickly and very easily assembled and when assembled will provide a very firm connect-ion between the parts which will be retained in proper positions and will not rattle.

In assembling the device the hook-shaped portions of one pair of bands are placed about the corresponding pair of bars of the connecting device and passed about the steering posts, for example. The bolt 10 is then passed through the apertured ears and the ears drawn together, thus causing the hookshaped portions of the bands to be drawn into snug engagement with the bars of the connecting device and causing the band to grip the steering post. \Vith the nut on the bolt tightened down it will be obvious that the bands cannot be removed from the connecting device and that the clamp as a whole cannot move relatively to the steering post. The other pair of bars of the connecting device are so arranged that they are not in contact with the steering post and, consequently, the hook-shaped portions of the second pair of bands can be engaged with these bars and the bands carried about the distributer casing, for example, and the bolt 10 passed through the ears 8 thereof and tightened down to clamp this casing firmly to the connecting device which, as has been explained, is firmly held to the steering post. The construction and manner of assembling are exceedingly simple and are such that the clamp can be applied to the device to be supported or to the supporting device quickly and easily and tightened down with the use of a wrench only.

While that form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has certain advantages the invention can be embodied in other forms. For example, in Fig.4 I have shown the two clamping devices as each formed of a single band 1% each band having at one end a hook-shaped portion 15 adapted to engage a bar 16 provided at one end of a connecting plate 17 which is similar in its general character to the connecting plate 3, but which is provided with a single bar at one end only. To permit the two hook-shaped portions of the two bands to engage this single bar they are cut away, as shown in Fig. 3, to provide for an interlocking arrangement, after the manner of a hinge. The other end of each band is provided with an ear or lug 18 which ears are connected by a bolt 19 which serves to draw both clamping devices snugly in engagement with the parts to which they are attached. Preferably, the connecting plate 17 has an apertured portion which extends between the ears 18. This is not essential nor is it essential that a single bar 16 be provided as a double bar similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be employed at one end of the plate 17.

The invention is capable of use as a single clamping device, as well as a double clamping device and in Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown the same as embodied in a clamp for supporting the license number plate from the filling pipe of the radiator. In the forms of the invention above described the two clamping members constitute attaching ClGVlCGSu Either pair of bands taken with the connecting device constitutes a complete clamp and the other pair of bands serves to attach this clamp and the part about which it is clamped either with the supporting device or with the device to be supported, as the case may be. When the invention is embodied in a single clamp the attaching device for connecting the clamp with the part to be supported or the supporting part, as the case may be, is of a different form. As shown in these figures the clamp proper comprises a single pair of curved bands 1 similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hook-shaped portions of which are engaged with a connecting plate 20 which has a single bar at each end thereof. The connecting plate is provided on that side opposite the band 1 with a projection or lug 21 to which is secured an elongated bar 22 to which the license number plate 23 may be secured in any suitable manner, as by means of bolts 24. It will be apparent that the clamping device as thus applied is of such a character that it will firmly hold the number plate in position but will not in any way interfere With the use of the filling pipe and will not mar the appearance of the radiator.

While I have shown and described certain forms of my invention it will be un-.

derstood that these have been chosen for the purpose of illustration and I do not wish to be limited to the constructions shown and described, for other modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A clamp comprising two members each having at one end a hook-shaped portion, a connecting device comprising parts to be engaged by said hook-shaped portion, a surface to engage the part which is clamped and means on said surface to hold said last-mentioned part and connecting device against relative movement, and means engaging the ends of said members remote from the hook-shaped portions thereof for clamping them together.

2. A clamping device comprising two pairs of bands, each band having a hookshaped portion at one end, a connecting device arranged between said pairs of bands andhaving parts to be engaged by the hookshaped portions of said bands, said connecting device also comprising surfaces to engage the parts to be clamped and means thereon to prevent relative movement thereof and the parts to be clamped, and means to act upon those ends of each pair of bands opposite said connecting device to draw the bands of each pair toward each other.

3. A clamping device comprising two pairs of curved bands, each band having a hook-shaped portion, a connecting device arranged between said pairs of bands and having parts to. be engaged by the hookshaped portions of each band, and. means to act upon those ends of each pair of bands opposite said connecting device to draw said bands toward each other.

4. A clamping device comprising a connecting plate having at each end two transverse bars, curved bands having hookshaped portions to engage the respective bars, two of said bands being arranged on one side of said connecting plate and two on the other side thereof, said bands having ears at those ends opposite the hookshaped portions thereof, and bolts extending through said ears to draw the bands of 10 each pair toward each other.

In testimony whereof I aflEiX my signature.

CAR-L J. WALLACE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

